Alexandria

Alexandria is located along the Potomac River, six miles south of downtown Washington, DC, and provides easy access into the district and surrounding Virginia suburbs. It was founded in 1749 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, Alexandria receives international recognition for its architecture, award-winning restaurants, and unique shopping. In 2008, the Alexandria City Council approved an “Eco-City” charter with the goal of guiding the city and its residents toward sustainability.

The historic center and heart of Alexandria, known as Old Town, is the third oldest historic district in the United States, and has served as home to American legends such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Robert E. Lee. The charming neighborhood contains more than 4,200 historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, including homes, churches, museums, shops, small businesses and restaurants.

Alexandria has a large park system with approximately 950 acres spread across 70 major parks and 30 recreation centers. Some of the parks in Alexandria offer facilities for swimming, tennis, racquetball, and other sports. Alexandria also organizes several sports leagues throughout the year including volleyball, softball and basketball. It is also home to Cameron Run Regional Park, which includes a water park with a wave pool, and water slides, as well as a miniature golf course and batting cages. A portion of the Mount Vernon Trail, a popular bike and jogging path, runs through Old Town near the Potomac River on its way from the Mount Vernon Estate to Roosevelt Island in Washington, DC. There is also a largely unbroken line of parks stretching along the Alexandria waterfront from end to end.

Many of the homes in Alexandria exemplify historic 18th and 19th century architecture. The varieties of homes in the area possess a wide range of prices depending on size and location. Many areas outside of Old Town Alexandria offer great options for first time homebuyers, while neighborhoods such as Del Rey have some of the most desired homes in Northern Virginia.